Suction cleaner



Q. BERG SUCTION CLEANER, Filed Feb. 15, 1959 `May 27, 1941.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Patented May 27, 194i causar ysUc'rroNcmuNr-:a QnentinergHCan-ton, Ohio. assigner to The . HooverCompany, NorthCanton, Ohio, a corf' poration of Ohio Applicants February1s, una sem Nc. 256,440

s cum. (ci. sue-r11) The present Vinvention relates to suctioncleancontrol mechanism in suction cleaners.

It is an object ofthe invention to. provide a new and improved suctioncleaner. Another ob ject to provide new and improved handle controllingmeans in a suction cleaner. It is another object to provide means whichpermit free movement ofthe handle in onedirection and lock the handle inany position upon movement in the reverse direction. A further object isto pro-- vide resilient friction means to lock the handle in anydesiredposition. Further objects and advantages of the invention will beapparent upon referring to the following specification and claims andthe attached drawings; wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a suction cleaner in which my inventionis embodied;

Figure 2 is a broken longitudinal sectional view of one embodiment ofthe invention:

Figure 3 is an enlarged broken sectional view of the embodiment shown inFigure v2 taken at right angles thereto;

Figure 4 is a broken sectional view of another embodiment of theinvention, and

Figure 5 'is a sectional view of another embodiment of the invention.

The invention disclosed herein is employed in a suction cleanercomprising a main casing Il having a nozzle I I communicating with anunshown fan chamber connected to an exhaust passageway I2 provided witha vertical flange Il towhich a dust bag Il is removably secured. T'hecasing I0 supports a motor housingli enclosing anunshown motor fordriving an unshown fan which creates suction to draw dirtladen air fromthe surface being cleaned through the nozzle II into the fan chamber anddischarges the dirt-laden air through the exhaust eway I2 into the dirtbag Il. The cleaner is'supported on front and rear wheels .I8 and I1respectively.

One embodimentof the handle control mechanism is disclosedin Figures 2and 3, and comprises an elongated hollow handle 20 removably disposed ina split hollow handle socket 2| Vhaving side walls 22 and 23, a frontwall 2l and a split rear wall 25. A bolt and nut connection 28 clampsthe handle 20 in the split handle socket 2I. The handle socket 2l ispivotally mounted on the casing I0 by being journalled on a hollow tothe rear end of the casing' I0 above the exf haust passageway I2. Inorder to prevent rotation ofthe handle pivot .21.0ne end 22 of thelatter is rigidly secured toy one oi' the handle brackets 29. Apair ofspacers Il are interposed vers and particularly to new and improvedhandle between thesocket side walls -and handle brackets to properlyposition the handle'on the pivot 21.

In vorder to lock't'he handle in any angular position between thestorage position shown in Figure` 2 to a substantially horizontalposition, a

. resilient spring 35 is woundhelically about the friction drum 21 whichis of relatively large diameter. The normal contracted inside diamtimesurges the movable end l0 of the spring 35 eter of the helical spring 35is slightly'less than the outside diameter o! the drum 21. Although Ihave shown the friction spring 35 as being cir- I cular In section. itmay be of different cross section and the friction surface of the drum21 may be hardened to resist wear.

and the spring 25 4is wrapped counter-clockwise about drum 21, as viewedin Figure 2. The opposite end l0 of the spring 25 is secured to arod '4Ihaving a longitudinally ofi-set portion l2 A tension spring .I5 has oneend securedv to the rod 4I and another end secured to a member 46 vwhichis removably mountedin the handle socket byscrews I1 and serves as asupport for the male electrical plug u. The tension spring 45 at all ina direction to wrap the latter about the drum 21 and to urge the rod 4Iupwardly in the handle through a bore 52 in a female electricalconnector 53 and upwardly in the handle through a guide member 54 andhas its upper end 55 vrigidly connected to a yoke 58 having a pair ofspaced arms 51 which are joined together at their upper -ends asindicated at 58, for pivotal connection toa pin 55 mounted in a handoperated -lever 60. The lever I6 is pivotally mountedat 5I on the.handle4 20 adjacent the upper end of the hand grip 62 where theoperator grasps the handle to manipulate the cleaner, andtheghand'engaging portion 53 of the lever Slat all times projectsbeyond'the exterior of the hand grip 62. A lip lid i is formed on thehand lever 50 for engagement with the handle 20 to limit outwardvpivotal movement oi the lever. A portion ofthe handle 20 is cut out` tofacilitate assembling-the yoke 56 to the hand lever SII, and a rubberlor other insulating material 51 covers the upper end of a handle 20 to form an insulated hand grip.

One end 28 of thespring 35 is rigidly secured by a rivet 31 to an fextended portion 29 of the socket side wall 23 1 A switch case Il ismounted inthe handle 2l' and has an operating lever Il disposed beneathand adjacent to the hand operated handle control lever 80 for convenientmanipulation of the latter. The switch casel is arranged between thespaced arms 51 of the yoke 1li, and insulation is interposed between theyoke It and the switch 68 to insulate the hand operated handle controllever til. Electrical conductors 1I ex- `tend downwardly through thehollow handle .2l to the connector Il, and conductors 12 extend from themale plug M and then between the front socket wall 24 and the handle-pivot 21 to the unshown motor.

One of the walls 2. of the handle bracket is provided with an onset lug1l for engagementv with an extending lip 1l on the side wall I3 of thehandle socket to limit movement of the handle in its storage'position asshown in Figure l 35 will lock the handle in such position and preventrelative rotation between the handle and the casing II since the helicalspring Il has'a natural tendency to wrap tightly in a counterclockwisedirection, as viewed in Figure 2, and

Another embodiment ofthe invention is shown in Figure 4 andis alike inall respects tothe previous embodiment with the exception of theiriction drum about which the handle locking,- spring is wound. In thisembodiment a pivot ordrum Il is rigidlysupported in a pair of handlebrackets 2l mounted on the cleaner casing It. The locking spring 35 has.one end 36 rigidly at 31 to the pivotally mounted handle socket 2i, andits movable end 40 is secured to the actuating rod 4| which abuts therod 5l connected to the yoke I8 pivoted to the actuating l lever Il.

since the normal inside diameter of the helical spring is slightly lessthan the outside diameter of the friction drum 21. If the cleaner islifted ofi the iioor the natural` tendency of the casing lll is to pivotcounter-clockwise, as viewed in Figure 2, which causes the movable end4l of the spring 3l to wrap more tightly about friction drum 21, andthus lock the handle with respect to the casing. 4

When itis desired to lower the handle the operator depresses the. handlever .l which moves the actuating rods il and li downwardly in thehandle 2l against the force of the spring kcausing the f ree end 4l ofthe locking spring ll to move clockwise as viewed in Figure 2, or in animwrapping direction, which unwraps the locking spring l5 increasing theinside diameter of the latter to move it out of locking frictionalengagement with the friction drum 21, wherebyl the-spring 35 bodilymoves with the handle and the latter can be freely lowered to-anydesired position. Thereafter, the operator releases the hand lever .l0and the. tensionspring Il forces the actuating rods 4i and Il, upwardlyin the handle to return the parts to normalpositlon. At the same timethe free end 4l of, the locking spring I5 inherently contracts `and nivin a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2, to frictionallyengage throughout its helical length the drum 21 and to thereby-lock thehandle in the selected position. Additionally, the weight of the handle2l causes the latter to tend to pivot' clockwise as viewed in Figure 2,whereby the end li of the helical spris ll tends to wrap more tightlyabout the drum 21 to lock the'handle in position. 4

' If it is desired to raisethe handle from a low position the operatormerely pivots'the handle A lever Il is pivoted at I2 to a side wall ofthe handle socket 2l and has one end 83 pivotally connected to theactuating rod 4| and its opposite end is provided with a laterallyprojecting lug I4 which rides on a cam II provided on the drum and alsorides on the arcuate surface Il of the latter.

In operation, when the handle is in storage I position the lever Ilrests upon the drum surface Il as shown in Figure 4. When it is desired.

to lower the handle, the lever` 60 is depressed causing the actuatingrod 4| to move downwardly in the handle against the force of the spring46. Downward movement of the rod Il pivots the lever Il out ofengagement with the drum surface It and also unwraps the spring l5 fromlocking frictional engagement with the drum 81|, whereby the handle 2lmay be freely lowered to any position. r

If the handle has been moved to the normal working range, that is, plusor niinus with respect to the 45 degree anglenvand the actuating leverll is released, the lever lfl will engage the cam.

and prevent the locking spring'ifrom wrapping tightly about the drumlll, wherebyv the handle may be freely raised and lowered throughtheactuating lever Il to normal locking position and the spring l! wraps,or contracts, tightly about the drum Ilk to frictionally engage thelatter and lockthe handle in position.

A furthsr embodiment of the invention is disclosed in Figure 5 andcomprises a handle Ol. which is pivotally mounted to thev cleaner casingIl hereinbefore described. 'I'he rear wall ll of the handle is providedwith an elongated opening l! for the reception of a switch mechanism.'The switch mechanism comprises a switch case Il mounted on an angulabracket- 94 by means of a' nut l threaded on a hollow bolt 98 formingpart ofthe switch. and the bracket Il is secured to a cover plate I1which is removably'mounted upwardly without manipulating the actuatinglever Il. Thelocking spring Il permits` free upward movement of thehandle since the latter when pivoted upwardly, moves in the same direc-*tionln' whicl the locking spring." is wound sbot the pivot 21, um is. ms counter-clockwise y ',dlrection as viewed' in Figure 2.

on the rear handle wall 8| by screws 98.' Electrical conductors l extendfrom the switch Il downwardly inthe handle to an unshown motor.

I'he switch lever Ill extends through the hollow boit I! and is disposedbetween a pair of spaced bars III secured in the side arms 51 of theyoke Il forming part of the hand operated mechanism for controlling theexpansion and contraction of the spring Il to lock `the handle indiiIerent positions.

In operation, when the hand lever Il is de\ pressed to 4unwrap thelocking spring l! and thus unlock the handle Il, theyoke It movesdownwardly in thehandle and also moves the switch lever Ill to energizethe motor as long as the operator depresses the lever Il. When the' operator releases the lever Il4 the spring Il moves 75 'theme-,Il upwardlyin the handle to cause the ally operated means.

lever it to move to normal position and the switch lever to be shiftedto inoperative position to de-energize the motor, and at the same timethe handle 90 is locked in the selected position.

It is to be understood that the protection 'herein applied for is notconfined to the particular combinations of features or elements set outin the following claims. Protection is herein applied for, for'any oneor more oi' the features or elements referred to in the followingclaims, or described in the foregoing specifications or shown in theaccompanying drawings, either independently or in combination.

Iclaim: Y

1. In an ambulatory machine, comprising a body, a handle pivotallymounted on said body,v a friction member mounted on said body, lockingsaid casing of its weight rotatingldownwardly and forwardly with respectto said handle whenmeans wrapped around and frictionally engag` Aingsaid friction member, said means having one 2. In an ambulatory machine'comprising a.

body; an electric motor, a handle pivotally mounted on said body, aswitch mounted on said handle to control the current to said motor, afriction member, locking means wrappedaround and frictionallyengagingsaid friction member to lock said handle in position, hand operatedmeans on` said handle for releasing said handle locking means from saidfriction member to permit free movement of said handle with respect tosaid body, and means connected to said hand operated means for operatingsaid switch to energize said motor when said hand operated means areactuated to `unlock said handle, and operable to de-energize said motorwhen said hand operated means'are moved to handle locking position.

-3. In an ambulatory machine, comprising a body, a handle pivotallymounted on-said body, a friction member, locking means wrapped aroundand frictionally engaging said friction member to lock said handleinposition, means` for releasing said handle lockingmeans from saidfriction member to permit free movement of said handle with respect tosaid body, and means for -rendering said locking means ineiective forpermitting free oscillating movement of said handle without manipulationoi said locking releasing means.

4. In an ambulatory machine, comprising a body, a handle piyotallymounted on said body, a

friction member, locking means wrapped aroimd and frictionally engagingsaid friction-member to lock said handlev in position, manually operatedmeans for` releasing said handle locking means from said frictionmemberto permit free movement of said handle with respect to said body. ahandle pivoiauy mounted on said body toward the rear thereof, a frictionmember carried by said body, locking means adjacent said friction memberand connected to said handle for free movement of thelatter with respectto said body, said locking means being actuated when said cleaner islifted oi! its supporting surface' whereby said body' and vfrictionmember rotate with respect to said locking means to force the latterinto frictional engagement with said 'friction member and hold thehandle in position with respect to said machine body.

6. In a suction cleaner, a casing containin cleaner mechanism; a handlepivoted on said casing rearwardly of' the center of gravity thereof,

the cleaner islifted by said handle, a friction member mounted on saidcasing, 'locking means around said friction member and connected to Hsaid handle, said locking means being wrapped into frictional engagementwith said friction member by said downward tilting of said casing withrespect to said handle upon said lifting of the cleaner to thereby locksaid handle with respect to said casing. x l

7. In a suction cleaner, a casing containing cleaner mechanism, a handlepivoted on said casing rearwardly of the center of gravitythereof, saidcasing of its weight rotating downwardly andforwardly with respect tosaid handle when the cleaner is lifted by said handle, a frictionfmember mounted on said casing, locking means cooperating with saidfrictionmember to .hold said handle in adjusteda positions relative tosaid casing, manually operated means for releasing said locking means topermit free movement of said handle, and means for rendering saidlocking means ineffective for permitting free oscillation of said handlewithout manipulation ofv said locking releasing means, `said lockingmeans being wrapped into frictional engagement with said friction memberby said downward'tilting of said cleaner upon said lifting of the latterto thereby rigidly lock said handle with respect to said casins.

8. In a manipulatable tool having a handle pivotally mounted thereon,means for positioning body, cam means, and'lever means `connected withsaid'cam means and manually operated means and operable upon engagementwith' said cam means to render said locking means inenective forpermitting free oscillating movement of.

said handle without manipulation of saidmanu- 5.In an.ambulatorymachina-comprising a said handle -in a storage position or in apositionfor use, said means including a one-way frictional clutch deviceproviding for free Amovement of said handle toward said storage positionbut acting to arrest its movement in the reverse direction at any pointin its path of movement except when constrained from such action, andmeans for constraining said one-way clutch from arresting movement ofthe handle in either direction. r

A9. Inv an ambulatory machine, comprising a' body, an electric motor, ahandle pivotally mounted on'said body,'a switch mounted on the I upperend of said handle tovcontrol the current to said motor, handle lockingmeans on ,said body and handle for locking the latter with respect tosaid body, hand operated means on said handle for releasing said handlelocking means to permit movement of said handle with respect to saidbody, and means connected to said hand operatedvmeans for operating saidswitch to energize said motor when said hand operated means lareactuated to unlock'said handle, and operable to de-energize said motorwhen said hand operated means are moved-to handle locking position.

QUENTIN BERG. y

